3

The French troops, who conducted training exercises and retreat parades as though nothing of importance had happened for half a century and nothing would for half a century to come, sank into desuetude. Franco-British amity had already suffered from mutual recrimination during the final phases of their coalition campaign in France — charges hurled on the one side that the French lacked moral fiber, on the other that the British would fight to the last Frenchman. The French territories had a combined population of more than 16 million, all but a million or so either Berber or Arabic Moslem. The troops, mostly natives, and their commanders, mostly French, were professional and well trained, yet lacked the major accoutrements of modern warfare, their weapons and equipment being obsolete. There was also the question of command. The French flatly refused to serve under the British. They would take no orders from Anderson.